Messages - Notewell

Do they have the monetisation scheme in place already? Can you have a decent session without paying (you were supposed to "pay for fuel", right?)? Anything more?

No, during the beta fuel was unlimited. Even after release, fuel will regenerate at a set rate (every four hours).

Visually, it's similar to Assault Horizon, but it doesn't suffer from the same problems as its predecessor. Removing DFM allows you to appreciate the destruction more when it isn't ostentatious and in your face. Gameplay has been overhauled. As I mentioned before, DFM/ASM is gone, and skills have been replaced by Data Links, which are abilities (faster reload, missile power, etc.) that help your entire team. Aircraft are unlocked on a tiered system, roughly corresponding to NATO and Warsaw Pact arsenals. You can level up aircraft to unlock new special weapons and modify their stats with parts.

So far, only two campaign missions are playable. There are 3 or 4 co-op missions that alternate, as well.

The beta went offline on Friday for an unknown reason. The splash screen on the PS3 says it will be restored at an undetermined date, while Project Ace's Twitter says they hope to have it back up next week. No word on what could have caused it, but it must have been a major issue if the game has been completely pulled and is not just down for maintenance. The only major bug I noticed during the beta was that occasionally (maybe 1 out of 20 chance), the mission would end immediately after it started, awarding a random player MVP and setting everyone's score to zero. Not a significant problem in the beta where fuel supply is infinite, but upon release, that could have been a major problem.

I'm willing to bet that they've been working one this since the end of the DLC catalogs for iM@S 2. Maybe its release will coincide with the film, if they are that far into the development process. Does anyone think that in light of SHINY TV's release that this might be a re-imagining of sorts of iM@S 2 with the added ability to produce all idols from the start? I don't think this is what we're getting; especially since I don't think many people would be willing to purchase DLC for what is essentially a re-release of an older game. An entirely new title would create lots of new DLC opportunities.

Regardless, I'm glad PS3 is still being supported, since I have no intention of buying any next-gen console in the near future.

Thank you! By the way, Hana Yori Uta posted the first episode of his new LP yesterday and Takane seems to have won the tiebreaker.

I went ahead and ordered it from CDJapan since I trust them, it's just a shame that they only had "The Best" version in stock (you know, the ugly ones with a yellow border). But it's the same game anyway, so who cares. But I'll probably go to PA if I decide to get the G4U games.Hopefully you'll finally get your copy now that the government shutdown has ended. It's sad that so many things and people had to be affected over a dispute about Obamacare...

Ah yeah, I need to check out what HYU's posted recently.

You'll find G4U volumes 2 through 9 for 1500 yen through IM@S CHANNEL, but then you don't get the case. And it turns out that customs decided to examine it, so that was part of the hold up.

I'm really tired right now. I had my tonsils and adenoids removed yesterday and the doctors also decided that my turbinates needed to be shrunken, so they went ahead and did that too! My throat hurts really bad and my nose won't stop bleeding! I can't go to sleep yet because my dad said I had to eat something so I can take my pain medicine.

I had mine taken out about 10 years ago, and pretty much suffered the same fate as you. The only solace is getting to eat tons of ice cream and popsicles.

I know that feeling. I bought im@s 2 (and a PS3) when it came out. After 6 or so playthroughs i really wanted to understand the story, and i started taking japanese lessons again, after a break of about 13 years. That was 2 years ago. Currently i'm playing through the Yukiho route again (since she's my favourite idol and because my first playthrough was with her i didn't get the true end), and i can understand almost everything. So using im@s as a motivator helped a lot for me. But i'd rather buy the game now if i were you, it might be hard to find in a year. And you can measure your progress by playing it.

For the longest time I've sort of postponed any attempt to learn Japanese by telling myself it's "not practical," but I guess it doesn't hurt to have some comprehension of any foreign language, especially if it lets me play im@s in its native language and understand the lyrics. I guess it'll be my motivator, too.

I've actually watched his play through with Chihaya as the leader, and I'm looking forward to his new one. He hasn't announced which idol that will be the leader yet, but right now it's a tiebreaker between Takane and Miki, so I have a chance to get my wish of seeing Takane's story translated granted.At least he always chooses the "perfect" answers, so I'll get to experience the true ending.His and 765Subs' (unfinished) are the only translated LP's I've found so far, do you maybe know of another one that I've missed?

Yeah, it may get extinct when the 3rd vision comes out... but where should I get it then, is ebay my best choice? I've already checked Play-Asia and it seems like it's sold out there.

PS Store doesn't seem to do well with keywords, and it always ends up returning results that are only tangentially related to the actual thing you're looking for, at best.

I'm not aware of any other comprehensive English im@s 2 LPs out there, but if I manage to find one I'll link it here. As for purchasing the game, Play Asia may get it back in stock soon. Coincidentally, I ordered it from PA about a month ago and haven't received my copy yet; though PA staff has been pretty courteous and attentive to my situation so far. I suspect it's been delayed because of my country's government shutdown; customs are bound to move slower with that hindering them. I'd say go to eBay and see what you can find.

As far as I know, it's gone. On a side note, finding stuff in the PS Store can be kind of frustrating.

While you're working on your Japanese, this guy has a pretty good LP of im@s 2 that he just completed. Everything is translated. Granted, some of his choices are going to be different and dialog trees will differ slightly, but you get the gist of the story.

Slowly considering getting a PS3 on Black Friday now that Ace Combat Infinity is a PS3 exclusive. The only other game I really want for it is Gran Turismo 6 though..

I was in the same exact situation back when Ace Combat 6 was announced since I didn't have 360. I do have a PS3, so it's less of an investment for me into a game that I am not very optimistic about. Oh well, at least PA is continuing the series.

I wouldn't expect a PC version, though, even if it was an easy port. PCs aren't really a common thing for people to have and play games on in Japan, as I understand it. The only real gaming scene on PC is the doujin game scene. PC gaming is so vague and unknown in Japan that a lot of people, even those who work in the game industry, think Steam is a PC game piracy platform. Recent successes are starting to correct that, but it's still all western success. I doubt we'll see a shift to PC gaming in Japan any time soon, if ever.

Is this just because of the popularity of tablet and mobile gaming? Or the perception that PCs are for "work" and not for play?

Even if demand were there, I don't foresee it. Namdai just recently started producing a lot of PC ports, with varying results. They won't take a risk with im@s.

It would, and I think it would be well received. Porting is getting easier, but I am not sure Namdai will make the move. I think they will try to make it current gen with a next-gen release, and I'm going to bet it's a Sony exclusive. Even with Microsoft's policy shifts I think XB1 is all but DOA in Japan with their current release schedule.

You mean IŁ-2 Sturmovik? The realistic plane game? If so, never been into it that much myself, but it's nice to see people still playing that.Would be afraid that it gets forgotten.

The people that play these kind of games are likely to stick to it for years, though. ;-)

That's right. IL-2 Sturmovik 1946. Cliffs of Dover is the newest incarnation, but its release was plagued by bugs and other technical issues. It's all patched up now and is a good flight sim, but I believe 1946 is superior in all elements except graphics. '46 has much more content to boot, and I don't think CoD will surpass it. So I don't think IL-2 '46 will be forgotten until a new IL-2 appears that acquires the same playerbase as the original. I came into the game relatively recently (2009-ish), but many of the buddies I play with have been in the community since it came out in 2001. It's my WW2 sim of choice.